Baking pan having top reinforcing flanges

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an open top multisided baking pan having a bottom and upstanding sidewalls and a flat top flange which flares outward at the open top of the pan, the top flange including straight sections of uniform width and corners therebetween. A rim depends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the top flange. From the bottom of the rim straight sections of a bottom flange extend inward toward the sidewalls, the adjacent ends of such straight sections of the bottom flange being separated from one another at regions beneath the corners of the top flange. Each corner of the top flange is stiffened and reinforced by a zone thereof which extends outward beyond an arc of a circle connecting the outer peripheral edges of adjacent straight sections of the top flange and having the same center of radius of curvature as that of the inner peripheral edge of the corner of the top flange. Also, the ends of adjacent straight sections of the bottom flange are disposed beneath the outward extending zone of each corner of the top flange to further stiffen and reinforce the top flange at each corner. Alternatively, the width of the top flange at the corners is greater than at the straight sections, the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral edge of each corner of the top flange being less than the radius of curvature of its inner peripheral edge.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Nils Kauri Lindgren Stockholm, Sweden [2]] App]. No. 802,386 [22] Filed Feb. 26, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 [73] Assignee Aktiebolaget Electrolux Stockholm, Sweden a corporation of Sweden [32] Priority Feb. 29, 1968 [33} Sweden [31 2598/68 [54] BAKING PAN HAVING TOP REINFORCING FLANGES 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 220/74 [51] Int. Cl 865d 7/42 [50] Field of Search 220/74, 6C, 23.2, 23.4, 97C,23.8; 113/120, 120A, 1206 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,079,903 1 1/1913 Norton 220/97C 1,678,008 7/1928 Jackson 220/97C 2,253,499 8/1941 Rutenber.. 220/62 3,040,735 6/1962 Lyon, Jr. 220/23,8X 3,425,379 2/1969 Collins et al. 113/120 Primary Examiner-Raphael H. Schwartz Attorney-Edmund A. Fenander ABSTRACT: This invention relates to an open top multisided baking pan having a bottom and upstanding sidewalls and a flat top flange which flares outward at the open top of the pan', the top flange including straight sections of uniform width and corners therebetween. A rim depends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the top flange. From the bottom of the rim straight sections of a bottom flange extend inward toward the sidewalls, the adjacent ends of such straight sections of the bottom flange being separated from one another at regions beneath the corners of the top flange. Each corner of the top flange is stiffened and reinforced byv a zone thereof which extends outward beyond an arc of a circle connecting the outer peripheral edges of adjacent straight sections of the top flange and having the same center of radius of curvature as that of the inner peripheral edge of the comer of the top flange. Also, the ends of adjacent straight sections of the bottom flange are disposed beneath the outward extending zone of each corner of the top flange to further stiffen and reinforce the top flange at each corner. Alternatively, the width of the top flange at the corners is greater than at the straight sections, the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral edge of each corner of the top flange being less than the radius of curvature of its inner peripheral edge.

PATENTED JAN26 |97| FIG.4

BAKING PAN HAVING TOP REINFORCING FLANGES BACKGROU ND OF THE INV ENTION 1. Field of the Invention Baking pans often are subject to considerable expansion due to heating. This sometimes causes the bottom of a pan to curve and often the entire pan becomes distorted. Although a heated pan usually tends to assume its original shape when it again is at ambient temperature. the fact that a pan expands during heating and becomes deformed during use is objectionable. because fluids often will not be uniformly distributed in the bottom of the pan.

When food is being heated in an oven, the parts of the pan against which the food bears prevents such parts from being heated at the same rate and to the same elevated temperature as other parts of the pan. Under these conditions adjacent parts of a pan often are heated to different elevated tempera tures and the temperature difference of adjacent parts can be so great that the elastic limit will be passed when the pan expands during use. When this occurs a pan will not return to its original shape at ambient temperature and will be permanently deformed which is objectionable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide open top multisided baking pans having outwardly flaring flat top flanges which are stiffened and reinforced at the corners of the pan. This is accomplished by providing a top flange which includes straight sections of uniform width and comers therebetween which are of greater width. The radius of curvature of the outer peripheral edge of each corner of the top flange is less than the radius of curvature of its inner peripheral edge. With this arrangement the center of the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral edge of the top flange at each comer thereof is located at a corner of the top flange bridging and connecting adjacent straight sections of the top flange.

Stated another way, in a baking pan embodying the invention each corner of an outward flaring top flange is stiffened and reinforced by a zone thereof which extends outward beyond an arc of a circle connecting the outer peripheral edges of adjacent straight sections of the top flange and having the same center of radius of curvature as that of the inner peripheral edge of the corner of the top flange. Also. the ends of adjacent straight sections of the bottom flange are disposed beneath the outward extending zone of each corner of the top flange to further stiffen and reinforce the top flange at each corner.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of a baking pan embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the baking pan shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the baking pan shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2. the invention is shown embodied in a pan which is stamped from a rectangular sheet of metal. The multisided open top pan 10 includes a bottom II and opposing pairs of upstanding side walls I2 and 14 and aflat top flange 15 which flares outward at the open top of the pan.

The top flange I5 extends about the entire periphery of the therebetween. A rim I6. which depends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the top flange I5. extends lengthwise thereof about the straight sections 15a and corners I512 therebetween. r

A bottom flange I7 extends inward toward the sidewalls I2 and I4 from the bottom of the rim I6 and terminates at regions removed from the sidewalls. The bottom flange I7 only includes straight sections 1711 which extend inward from the bottom of the rim I6 at the straight sections 15a of the top flange 15. Hence. the straight sections I7a of the bottom flange 17 are separated from one another at the corners of the pan I0 at regions beneath the corners I5b of the top flange I5.

In accordance with this invention the width of the top flange I5 at the corners 15b is greater than the width (1 of the top flange at the straight sections 15a. With this construction the center A of the radius of curvature b of the rim 16 at each comer 15b of the top flange I5 is located on the top flange. Further. the radius ofcurvature h of the rim I6 at each corner ISb of the top flange I5 is less than the radius of curvature c of each corner at its inner peripheral edge. Stated another way. the radius of curvature b of the outer peripheral edge of the top flange I5 at each corner I5!) is less than the radius ofcurvature c of the inner peripheral edge of the top flange at each comer.

In the pan l0 the upstanding sidewalls I2 and I4 slope outward from the vertical. As seen in FIG. 3. the round corner I8 formed between inclined sidewalls I2 and I4 has a small radius of curvature d at the bottom II of the pan I0 and a larger radius of curvature c at the inner peripheral edge of the flange 15 at the comer 15b.

In pans of the kind being described. it has been the practice heretofore to provide a top flange in which the straight sections and comers thereof are of the same width. In pans of this type the outer peripheral edge of each corner of the top flange connects the outer peripheral edges of adjacent straight sections thereof by an arc of a circle which is illustrated in FIG. 3 by a curved dotted line 19 having a radius of curvature e. the center B of which is the same as that of the radius of curvature c of the inner peripheral edge of the corner 15b of the top flange I5.

By providing the top flange 15 with the corners 15!), each of which has an outer peripheral edge whose radius of curvature b is less than the radius of curvature c of its inner peripheral edge. each corner 15b of the top flange I5 is stiffened and reinforced by a zone F which extends outward beyond the are 19 of a circle connecting the outer peripheral edges of adjacent straight sections 15a of the top flange I5 and having the same center B of radius of curvature e as that c of the inner peripheral edge of the corner 15b of the top flange.

If the straight sections 15a and comers 15b of the top flange 15 were of the same width and the straight sections were connected at their outer peripheral edges by the curved dotted line 19, the ends of the bottom straight flange sections would terminate at the regions H which are located at about the points where the comers of the top flanges would start. However. by providing the zone F at each comer 15b of the top flange 15, the ends of the adjacent straight sections 17a of the bottom flange 17 can be terminated at regions which are disposed beneath each zone F to further stiffen and reinforce the top flange I5 at each corner 15b. With this arrangement the gap G between the inner corners 20 of each pair of adjacent straight sections 17a of the bottom flange 17, when extended as much as possible, is shorter than the radius of curvature b of the rim 16 at each comer 15b of the top flange 15.

In view of the foregoing. it will now be understood that the pan 10 of the invention can be formed from a rectangular sheet of metal having only small parts of the corners of the sheet cut to provide a top flange 15 in which the center of the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral edge of each corner 15b is located on the top flange I5.

I claim: I. An open top multisided baking pan having: a bottom and upstanding sidewalls and a top flat flange which flares outward at the open top thereof.

said top flange including straight sections of uniform width and corners therebetween, a rim which extends about the straight sections and corners of said top flange and depends vertically downward from the outer peripheral edge thereof, a bottom flange having straight sections which extend inward toward said sidewalls from the bottom of said rim at the straight sections of said top flange and terminate at re gions removed from said sidewalls, the straight sections of said bottom flange being separated from one another at the corners of the pan at regions beneath the corners of said top flange,

. the center of the radius ofcurvature of said rim at the corners of said top flange being located on said top flange, the width of said top flange at the corners being greater than at the straight sections,

. the radius of curvature of said rim at each comer of said top flange being less than the radius of curvature of each corner at its inner peripheral edge, and

the gap between the inner comers of each pair of adjacent straight sections of said bottom flange being shorter than the radius of curvature of said rim at each corner of said top flange.

An open top multisided baking pan having:

a bottom and upstanding sidewalls and a top flat flange which flares outward at the open top thereof,

said top flange including straight sections of uniform width and corners therebetween,

a rim which depends vertically downward from the outer peripheral edge of said top flange,

a bottom flange having straight sections which extend inward toward said sidewalls from the bottom of said rim at the straight sections of said top flange, the straight sections of said bottom flange being separated from one another at the corners of the pan at regions beneath the corners of said top flange,

the center of the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral edge of said top flange at each corner thereof being located on said top flange,

. the center of the radius of curvature of the outer a a bottom and upstanding sidewalls and a top flat flange which flares outward at the open top thereof.

said top flange including straight sections of uniform width and corners therebetween.

a rim which depends vertically downward from the outer peripheral edge ofsaid top flange,

a bottom flange having straight sections which extend inward toward said sidewalls from the bottom of said rim at the straight sections of said top flange, the straight sections of said bottom flange being separated from one another at the corners of the pan at regions beneath the comers of said top flange, and

. each comer of said top flange being stiffened and reinforced by a zone thereof which extends outward beyond an arc of a circle connecting the outer peripheral edges of adjacent straight sections of said top flange, and

. the ends of adjacent straight sections of said bottom flange being disposed beneath said outward extending zone of each corner of said top flange to further stiffen and reinforce said top flange at each corner. 

1. An open top multisided baking pan having: a bottom and upstanding sidewalls and a top flat flange which flares outward at the open top thereof, b. said top flange including straight sections of uniform width and corners therebetween, c. a rim which extends about the straight sections and corners of said top flange and depends vertically downward from the outer peripheral edge thereof, d. a bottom flange having straight sections which extend inward toward said sidewalls from the bottom of said rim at the straight sections of said top flange and terminate at regions removed from said sidewalls, the straight sections of said bottom flange being separated from one another at the corners of the pan at regions beneath the corners of said top flange, e. the center of the radius of curvature of said rim at the corners of said top flange being located on said top flange, f. the width of said top flange at the corners being greater than at the straight sections, g. the radius of curvature of said rim at each corner of said top flange being less than the radius of curvature of each corner at its inner peripheral edge, and h. the gap between the inner corners of each pair of adjacent straight sections of said bottom flange being shorter than the radius of curvature of said rim at each corner of said top flange.
 2. An open top multisided baking pan having: a. a bottom and upstanding sidewalls and a top flat flange which flares outward at the open top thereof, b. said top flange including straight sections of uniform width and corners therebetween, c. a rim which depends vertically downward from the outer peripheral edge of said top flange, d. a bottom flange having straight sections which extend inward toward said sidewalls from the bottom of said rim at the straight sections of said top flange, the straight sections of said bottom flange being separated from one another at the corners of the pan at regions beneath the corners of said top flange, e. the center of the radiUs of curvature of the outer peripheral edge of said top flange at each corner thereof being located on said top flange, f. the center of the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral edge of said top flange at each corner thereof being located at a corner of said top flange bridging and connecting adjacent straight sections of said top flange, and g. the end portions of each pair of adjacent straight sections of said bottom flange terminating at a region beneath a corner of said top flange which is between the outer peripheral edge of said top flange at the corner and the center of the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral edge of the corner.
 3. An open top multisided baking pan having: a. a bottom and upstanding sidewalls and a top flat flange which flares outward at the open top thereof, b. said top flange including straight sections of uniform width and corners therebetween, c. a rim which depends vertically downward from the outer peripheral edge of said top flange, d. a bottom flange having straight sections which extend inward toward said sidewalls from the bottom of said rim at the straight sections of said top flange, the straight sections of said bottom flange being separated from one another at the corners of the pan at regions beneath the corners of said top flange, and e. each corner of said top flange being stiffened and reinforced by a zone thereof which extends outward beyond an arc of a circle connecting the outer peripheral edges of adjacent straight sections of said top flange, and f. the ends of adjacent straight sections of said bottom flange being disposed beneath said outward extending zone of each corner of said top flange to further stiffen and reinforce said top flange at each corner. 